Mysteries worth reading......by Lousie Penny

Author Louise Penny

"I'm often asked two questions: should the books be read in order? And, what is the order?

Both excellent questions. At the risk of appearing to want you to buy more books let me say that while it's not necessary to read them in any particular order (they're designed to be self-standing) there is quite a strong character development arc. I think you'd enjoy the books even more if read in order.
Now, here's the order, from the first to the most recent:

STILL LIFE
A FATAL GRACE / DEAD COLD
THE CRUELEST MONTH
A RULE AGAINST MURDER / THE MURDER STONE
THE BRUTAL TELLING
BURY YOUR DEAD
A TRICK OF THE LIGHT
THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY

Some of the books have different titles, as you might have noticed. The publishers did this not, as you might suspect, to be annoying but because they genuinely feel their readers respond to different titles. I hope it's not too confusing."

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Everything above was from Louise's web pages.  I love her books! That is if you can love reading about a victim of murder.....and I don't always like that part....but the characters are very good, and deep.  The setting is charming.

Read this one first.......[it is being made into a movie by Canadian Broadcasting Company]

And before you read The Brutal Telling , you could read this by Susan Vreeland

as it is the source of the title phrase, "The Brutal Telling".

Now, I have just finished reading TBT ( the brutal telling) and must go and find the next one which will wind up some loose ends.... Bury Your Dead !

AND I am really looking forward to reading her latest, "The Beautiful Mystery" which is set in monestery with vows of silence.  [watch the movie "Into Great Silence" to get a bit of monestery atmosphere!]

Attention! this is my post # 1,000!

This textile artist with permanently blue hands knows the

Power of INDIGO !

Aboubakar Fofana has worked for years in Africa, France, Japan and Great Britain to preserve the ancient dying techniques for these beautiful textiles.

I had first read about him in "Indigo in search of the Color which Seduced the World", a wonderful travel and adventure by Catherine McKinley.

Last week my friend Paula brought me a back issue of "Traditional Homes" magazine, April 2009, which featured an article about him.
This piqued my interest and I found a lot on the Internet.

Blogger Holli Zollinger writes about these textiles here .

You can read more about Catherine McKinley HERE .
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All this thinking about indigo seems appropriate for this my 1,000th post!
When I impulsively started blogging, I named my blog by "pulling" two words "out of the air", hence "indigo" (a color I loved!) and "pears" so ordinary but still fascinating to an artist!

I am considering taking an on-line indigo dying class with Shibori Girl . I have enjoyed using her textiles in my art work recently!

What I am reading this month.....

love the cover on this one! Great colors! You too can read along and join Cornflower's book group [see Cornflower in my blog links!]!

My favorite series..... about Maise Dobbs.....the latest, "A Lesson in Secrets". BTW, another in the series, "Elegy For Eddie" will be out soon.

YOu can read Jacqueline Winspear's blog (Google that) and learn SO much! [sorry for not putting the links in for you...I've just been called to go in to work!]

If you like to know more here is a review of "A Lesson in Secrets"!

The dangers of surfing the web [I was researching Alexander McCall Smith] are that you will find treasures, which in turn you must seek...LOL!



I had no idea that there was a cookbook "out there"....now the original hardcover of this one is very rare and is listed at $350.00-$500.00! .... but the paperback is available for about $20.00....be sure you order from the correct side of the pond though, or you could be in for some shipping costs!

He also has some children's books....


These quiet, cloudy late autumn days are perfect for some reading! I am enjoying this McCall Smith novel, # 8 in a series set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
...and if I had an "e-reader" I would be getting this one too! I love spending time with these characters and this setting!

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A "Grandma" post--

Here is a video of our 3 month old grandson, giggling with his mom!

Mary & Andrew's Baby News: Wes and his kicking giggles. Nothing better than ...: Wes and his kicking giggles. Nothing better than a happy baby. Even better when you get some giggles. Here is a recent video to enjoy. W...

I am joining something.....joining the thousands of people who have bought and loved Ann Voskamp's book! It is Christian writing which does not insult my intelligence nor lead to nit picking theological disputes. It just celebrates and beauty and joy found all around us!

For more about this best-selling book, look here.

Off to get my copy now....it wasn't easy to find! I called and they are holding their last copy!

P.S. For some beautiful writing and photos, just Google Ann Voskamp blog. Enjoy!

Projects of the moment....

This litte gift bag was sewn following these directions. So cute and 2 sizes are given!

Birds are appearing in my work as usual! These patchwork backgrounds and appliqued birds are recent examples.

I have also just signed up to do a mixed medium paper and cloth class with Jane La Fazio. This on-line class will keep me in new projects for the next 6 weeks!

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I have been on a waiting list for this book at our local library. Yesterday, it was my turn!

I am really enjoying it, a young mother's story of how her life changed as her yoga practice progressed.

I've been at Mom's house this week while the painters are sprucing it up. Nice. Except for the paint fumes!.... SO, I spent the afternoon at a bookstore. I found this wonderful gardening book.

It is full of watercolor illustrations and good instructions. Be sure to watch the video below for a look in her book and to hear Katherine Whiteside!

OH, and did I tell you that I now have 2 sets of bamboo wind chimes???!!! Yes! I can hardly wait to get them home and hang them in the Ozark breezes. [ wind chimes are on sale now...look around!]

A new author and series of books for these hot summer days!

My friend Paula told me about this series, which our library carries. I was not disappointed!

I think of it as a kind of "Nancy Drew" for grown ups. Like Nancy, Maisie is close to her father and is following clues and solving mysteries. The time period is a good decade after WWI, in Great Britain. Her journey is intellectual and spiritual as well as psychological. Above the first in the series, "Maisie Dobbs" and the last, just published, "The Mapping of Love and Death".

So far, I have only read the first one. But I am printing out this list, of the books in order, and heading to the library. Some are also available on Audio Books.

Winspear, Jacqueline. Maisie Dobbs. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2003.
Winspear, Jacqueline. Birds of a Feather. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.
Winspear, Jacqueline. Pardonable Lies. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2005.
Winspear, Jacqueline. Messenger of Truth. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2006.
Winspear, Jacqueline. An Incomplete Revenge. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2008.
Winspear, Jacqueline. Among the Mad. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2009.
Winspear, Jacqueline. The Mapping of Love and Death. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2010.

Not only is it too hot these days to do very much, I have been taking Mom to various appointments. Having a book along is not a bad idea!

What books are you loving at the moment?

A great book for those of us who are now "retired"! Learning to live in the moment and not be "frozen" by fear! An honest and ultimately hopeful look at one woman's experience. (someone said it is like "Eat, Pray, Love" for the middle-aged to which she replied...no, it is like "Eat, Eat, Eat"!)

The author was the editor of House and Garden magazine until it suddenly folded, one week in the spring of 2007.

She writes a blog with a link there to an excerpt of her book [from the New York Times March 28th edition].

I'm making good progress on the Easter dress. The flounces at the bottom are now on. I had planned on making the underneath tier out of a coral cotton fabric, but once I found these butterflies, I knew they should be the choice! Fun!

AS I returned from my shopping for that fabric, yesterday, I didn't see a bent sharp tool lying in the road....immediately, my right rear tire began making a terrible k-thunk, k-thunk noise. I got to my parking place (where I work) and took a look. The handle of the tool was sticking out of my tire!

Hearing of my problem, our gallant sewing machine repair person, Jim, came out to my car and changed the tire. [yeah!!! Jim is getting a batch of cookies when I go back to work tomorrow!]

So, my day off this morning started with a trip to the tire center for the installation of a new tire. Thank goodness for road hazard coverage!!! I didn't have to pay for a new tire!

While I waited, I continued to read "THE HELP". It really is a good read, hard to put down..... so that's all I have done today; I just finished the book and can now start cooking dinner!

I hope to get around to visiting some of your blogs this evening!

It has been another cold day here. The shop where I work was closed. Funny thing about the "south", we stay home when there is the least little snow and cold.
I spent today finishing this "infinity scarf" ( soft teal in photo above) for my daughter. It was knitted on size 15 circular needles using two strands of yarn....one with a bit of wool for warmth. You can find patterns and get the idea of how to knit this by "Googling" "infinity scarf pattern".
I have enough yarn, in a slightly different color combination, for another scarf. I will give my hands a rest though, and start one of the library books I just picked up [yes, we called, and the library WAS open!]
I chose several books, mysteries by M.C. Beaton and by Alexander McCall Smith (he was under McCall, not Smith) all of which are set in Scotland. This will probably make me want to make more tea and scones. I also picked up a novel by the late Madeline L'Engle, "Certain Women". I love her books and don't think I have read this one!
I think of you who are in much colder areas and hope you are staying warm this January!

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

I am adding this book to my reading list....and will see if the local library can reserve it for me.[I'm no doubt drawn to the beautiful pink dress on the cover...]

I love armchair travel and this one has some time travel too, I think.

Have any of you read this????

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Mr. Pear update...He is walking around the block AND driving all over town. (no longer on strong pain medicine or he wouldn't be driving!)

A real treat for Frida Kahlo and Barbara Kingsolver fans..... coming November 3rd!

A wonderful novelist tells the story of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera from a different viewpoint.I can't wait!

"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope." -Barbara Kingsolver

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Still learning new things~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love reading a quiet novel which may be full of extra tid-bits of information from the real world in which the novel is set. The latest one which I am reading is "The Lost Art of Gratitude" by Alexander McCall Smith.
In it there is a reference to Scottish artist Anne Redpath (1895-1965). I had not heard of her before... Wow! Do I love her work! So much red, pink and lots of gray (it rains a lot in Scotland!)
Enjoy! [Images from the Internet]



(above---she did travel and live in continental Europe too...this window seems to look out on the Mediterranean coast)

I can definitely say that reading (which two of the subjects are doing!) may seem like a very passive activity but it continues to broaden and deepen my world!

The newest in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I am reading this today. I have tomorrow off too [Labor Day] and hope to do some art work....maybe use Botswana as an inspiration for a collage.

The last shirt of summer.....

This was yesterday's quick sewing project. Such fun! A man's dress shirt ($2.00 at Salvation Army Thrift Store) is transformed into a peasant blouse for US! The easy-to-follow tutorial is here!

We can always enjoy one more white top on hot summer days! [Or, if you really get lucky with the shirt you find, it could be a lovely exotic (no, not Hawaiian!) colorful print which would be a great tunic for autumn!]

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Yesterday, the library let me know that the book I had on reserve was in! I am enjoying it very much! It is a mystery in England in 1950. The sleuth is an 11 year-old girl. So far the plot has included poison ivy and a cucumber patch (in their kitchen garden) so I feel right at home!

NOTE: click here to see the collage bookmark I am using, LOL!

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I may bake these today, I can't remember where I came across this recipe, somewhere on-line.
I have rosemary in the garden of course.

Recipe of the month: Rosemary Cookies ( by popular demand!)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1/2 teasp vanilla
1/2 teasp baking soda
1/2 teasp cream of tartar
2 cups flour
1 tbls. chopped fresh rosemary
Optional....lemon zest, 1 Tbls.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients except rosemary. mix thoroughly Add rosemary at the last. roll dough into small balls and put on cookie sheet. Press with the bottom of a sugar coated glass to flatten. bake 10-12 minutes. cool on rack.

While cleaning and de-cluttering my studio, I couldn't help getting involved with the materials down there. Here is a quick collage about sitting, resting, chairs.....Hmmmm. Maybe I've done enough for the day. Now to find a comfortable chair and read more of "Middlemarch". I just read chapter XL this morning and liked it very much as some of my favorite characters finally got some good news about their prospects! Reading this has been enlightening about how similar our concerns are today to theirs in the 1800's.... to a certain extent. (and of course I am a little out of date myself! LOL!)

During the rainy days, I began reading this mystery novel. The latest in the Inspector Lynley
series. It is excellent...set in Cornwalll and very contemporary. Her characters are very believable and interesting. Her descriptions wonderful. I think I found 6 new vocabulary words on the first page alone!

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Finally, we are heading into our 3rd day of sunshine. I will be at work, but things are improving in the layered garden. The damaged leaves removed, the tomato plant is remaining healthy.

I need to build something for the cucumber to climb on....we have lots of bamboo so that will be easy... my pansies have perked up though it is time to move on to warm weather flowers, so I have added marigolds, verbena and geraniums. The leaf lettuce is doing well also as long as it remains cool.....maybe some photos or sketches later.

A bad case of spring fever today....I am enjoying watching my garden grow and bloom .
Here is a watercolor[ in a notebook] of a coral pink tulip, one of a dozen or so out there. Because of allergies, I cannot just linger outside and enjoy the balmy day...

For improving my mind, I am reading this book by Jane Austen. Her last published novel.

I have also pin basted 2 quilt tops, and am going to yoga this afternoon. Dinner is in the crockpot!

Holiday Reading....."A Highland Christmas" by M.C. Beaton. A perfect, delightful Christmas tale. I enjoyed visiting with Hamish Macbeth after returning from Georgia!